I want to send a great number of papers to Lord St. Vincent; but I durst not trust any person here to carry them, even to Naples.

Pray, send a copy of my letter to Lord Spencer; he must be very anxious to hear of this fleet.

I have taken the liberty of troubling your Excellency with a letter for Lady Nelson.  Pray, forward it for me; and believe me, with the greatest respect, your most obedient servant,

  HORATIO NELSON.

Sent on shore, to the charge of the Governor of Syracuse.

IV.

  Vanguard, Syracuse, July 22d, 1798.

MY DEAR SIR,

I have had so much said about the King of Naples’s orders only to admit three or four of the ships of our fleet into his ports, that I am astonished!  I understood, that private orders, at least, would have been given for our free admission.  If we are to be refused supplies, pray send me, by many vessels, an account, that I may in good time take the King’s fleet to Gibraltar.  Our treatment is scandalous, for a great nation to put up with; and the King’s flag is insulted at every friendly port we look at.

I am, with the greatest respect, your most obedient servant,

  HORATIO NELSON.

P.S. I do not complain of the want of attention in individuals, for all classes of people are remarkably attentive to us.

Sent on shore, to the charge of the Governor of Syracuse.

V.

  Vanguard, Mouth of the Nile,
  August 8th, 1798.

MY DEAR SIR,

Almighty God has made me the happy instrument in destroying the enemy’s fleet; which, I hope, will be a blessing to Europe.

You will have the goodness to communicate this happy event to all the courts in Italy; for my head is so indifferent, that I can scarcely scrawl this letter.

Captain Capel, who is charged with my dispatches for England, will give you every information.  Pray, put him in the quickest mode of getting home.

You will not send, by post, any particulars of this action, as I should be sorry to have any accounts get home before my dispatches.

I hope there will be no difficulty in our getting refitted at Naples.  Culloden must be instantly hove down, and Vanguard all new masts and bowsprit.  Not more than four or five sail of the line will probably come to Naples; the rest will go with the prizes to Gibraltar.

As this army never will return, I hope to hear the Emperor has regained the whole of Italy.

With every good wish, believe me, dear Sir, your most obliged and affectionate

  HORATIO NELSON.

  9th August.

I have intercepted all Buonaparte’s dispatches going to France.  This army is in a scrape, and will not get out of it.

VI.